Retail BID beautifies protection barriers in city centre

Plants adorn barriers on Corporation Street

Birmingham Retail BID has installed decorative features on 16 public realm protection barriers across the city centre.

The BID has also designed bespoke planters to fit the barriers and worked with Birmingham City Council’s Parks team and local company Creative Plants to select attractive, low-maintenance palms and ornamental grasses.

The steel structures, known officially as National Barrier Assets (NBAs), have also been re-painted by the BID in gloss black, replacing the previous bright yellow paintwork.

The anti-terrorism structures were installed by the Government from 2017 after a spate of vehicle-led terror attacks in France and Germany.

Most UK cities now have the NBAs in busy areas and the Retail BID said Birmingham was the first location to dress the barriers with the unique planters to enhance the visual appeal of the city centre.

Steve Hewlett, Retail BID Manager, said: “Retailers were keen that we improved the aesthetic look of the barriers to ensure they had a softer impact on the street scene, whilst still recognising the important safety protection that they offer to shoppers in the city centre.”

The highly-visible barriers can be seen at high-footfall entry points such as the junction with New Street and High Street, Temple Street, Bennetts Hill and Cannon Street. A permanent solution to replacing the existing barriers is being considered in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Retail BID is the Business Improvement District for the city centre leisure and shopping area, supporting the Bullring & Grand Central, the Mailbox and hundreds of businesses in Piccadilly Arcade, Great Western Arcade, New Street, High Street, Temple Street and more.

The features are one of several BID initiatives taking place throughout 2019 to enrich the ‘Birmingham Welcome’, which includes installing ten flower towers.

A recent community clean-up and litter-pick collected more than 30 bags of litter and removed graffiti and stickers from street furniture across the city centre.

“It is important that the city centre is seen as being safe and attractive for our customers. The barriers look so much better now and far less oppressive than they were originally,” said Lloyd Morgan, General Manager at Watches of Switzerland, on New Street.

The BID is also continuing its investment in street deep-cleaning to remove grime and gum with a programme of environmentally-friendly steam-cleaning over the summer months.

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